At the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) in Wichita, Kansas, 9 different administrative law judges (ALJ) conduct Social Security Disability (SSD) hearings and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) hearings. Currently, in Wichita, the average wait time for a SSI or SSD hearing is 15.0 months. The average case processing time in Wichita is 460 days.The Wichita average for winning a SSI or SSD disibility hearing is 37%. Click on the name of one of the ALJs below to see detailed information about their hearing results. This information for the Wichita ODAR office was last updated on 9/7/2016.

LATEST COMMENTS
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how come the national average is 44 % and this office is 31& ? does the political attitude of the alj come into play? _____ right it does and this system should be changed. the alj slot should be cut out since it turns on the attitude of a single person. whom you draw as judge should not determine your case.

I wrote the previous comment about Judge Werner before receiving my decision and I can not tell you the feeling of knowing he actually listened to me and took the time to understand my situation as a whole. I knew when I walked out of the hearing that whatever the decision would be I would be alright with it as I felt I had been heard for the first time without personal judgement.
I have terrible anxiety that makes me instantly start to sweat (profusely) and cry hysterically without much control of my face. So many times thru this process I have had professionals instantly want to "get rid" of me when this happens. It's already embarrassing and awful without that additional stress. Judge Werner actually allowed me to take the time I needed to answer questions, even though it is very difficult when I'm having an attack and crying hysterically. Since the day I had a major stroke at my desk I do not feel that anyone has taken the time to listen to what I had to say... until my hearing with Judge Werner.
Judge Werner was wonderful in that, yes he listened to me, but because of the way he treated me I made it through the hearing and was able to provide the information he needed. He made it clear that he would be verifying through my files that the information I provided was correct and that was a huge relief to me also because that meant he was actually going to take the time to read my file! I know now that he must have because although I have over 15 years of medical records I had been denied on just one report from an SSI doctor I spent 30 minutes with. This would not have been an easy task as even I have troubles reading all my medical reports because there are so many.
I just can not say enough how grateful I am for his humanity. I had almost given up hoping that at some point during this process someone would care enough to listen instead of thumbing through until they found something that could constitute a denial.

I pity people that have to go before this judge. In general he seemed like a nice guy. But when you leave he's a different person. It took me 2 years to get this far. Only to have a letter show up at my home with countless errors in it. I filled because of my severe knee problems and my speech problems. In the letter all these specialists that the state of Kansas sent me to "Carried Little to no" consideration. He conveniently wrote off 8 years of MRI reports, and dozens of state and private doctor/specialist recommendations. He also conveniently didn't even mention some of my other problems with my knees that are well documented. Instead I receive a letter with an entire page telling me "Acne" isn't considered a disability? Well no "censored". I never filed because of acne. What kind of person would hire an attorney and wait 2 years and ask to be disabled because of acne? How that ended up in my file is beyond me. Then somehow Dyslexia ended up in my file too. And he went on and on stating there is no evidence of Dyslexia. Well gosh maybe that's because I do not have Dyslexia. I didn't even know what that was until I googled it. There are countless errors in this judges decision to ultimately turn me down. Bottom line is if this is your judge you have no hope. You like me wasted 2 plus years for nothing. All so you could get a letter with an entire page dedicated to acne. You can also expect countless errors in his decision. Along with facts that would have greatly helped you be conveniently left out.

I just had my hearing yesterday and I was very nervous and scared to go. It was a very hard process for me but I do feel that Judge Werner listened to me and was genuinely trying to understand my circumstances and situation. I did not have representation and Judge Werner did take time to explain what was happening to me through the process even though it caused us to run over on time. I may or may not be approved but I do feel that I was given the opportunity to be heard and not judged on a personal level. That I appreciate.

Well, ALJ Conyers is certainly very kind during a hearing and comes across as very concerned about the client. She does tend to allow the representative to begin the questions, but then interrupts quite often to ask her own questions. Again, though, she is very considerate about this and not at all overbearing.
All this being said, she is currently approving only about 15% of all claims that come before her. I do not believe you could come up with those odds if you just rolled a pair of dice at the start of each hearing.
Even before she returned to OKC ODAR she only had an overall approval rating of 25-26%, which again is less than the odds of just throwing dice.
While it is nice to have a kind ALJ at a hearing, I am sure everyone would be more thrilled to see an ALJ that actually applies the law and evidence to a claim and awards those individuals that obviously meet the requirements for Disability.

My hearing appointment took about 9 months. Judge Langland understood my situation and acknowledged that I had tried to resolve the overpayment thru the Wichita office and I then had to move on to see him to resolve the problem. I had tried and tried to resolve the issue thru the Wichita office but no one listened. The Judge recalculated my account and I had a partial favorable decision. Sadly, the powers now are not complying to his order or decision, and the Missouri office has written me 3 times in a month. Each letter indicates there is more than one person on my case, and so far out of the loop. But, no one signs the letters, so I do not have a name to complain. One letter states my W.C. does not affect my S.S. I have not been on W.C. since 2007. Judge Langland seemed fair in my case, the bad part is someone is not following or enforcing his decision. I do not know what to do now, trying to go back to see the judge. It is bad when the Judge makes a decision, and then the decision is not honored by the SSA staff in the Missouri office. I feel totally harassed by the staff in the office.

Judge Langland looked at what he wanted to see not at the evidence as a whole. Sure I made statements from time to time that I was doing ok. But those times are short lived. He gave more weight to a Psychologist who Ive never met than Dr.s who have treated me for 10+ years. He held it against me that I took my last dime to try and open and run a shop but failed to realize I left the shop because I couldn't handle the stress and **** near had a nervous breakdown over it. He commented that I had no periods of de-compensation which is a blatant falsehood. Anyone who knows me can tell you Ive been unemployed a lot more than employed. I have service related PTSD and Major reoccurring bouts of depression. My whole life is a total wreck. I want nothing more than to work and be normal but I fail at every attempt. I just want to run and hide away in dark places alone. I have stress disorder which makes my brain trigger fight or flight responses. I beg to be normal but Im not and ive faced that reality. Yes people do make positive statements to their Psychiatrists not because we are magically healed but because we have good days and bad. I try and try and want people to see me as ok but in the end Im not ok. My life has been one disaster after another. I hope he can sleep at night knowing he didn't even listen to his own vocational expert. Thanks Mr. Langland for seeing what you wanted to see not the whole story. Ill be filing an appeal immediately.

Just the type judge we need. Doing his part not to bankrupt the country. Im sure every case thinks they are justified. That not true!!!! Make an appeal if you dont like the outcome!!!! Thank God he is not just a rubber stamp. We need someone with backbone to say No!!!Keep up the good work!!!!

ALJ's name is pronounced like "Weary". Knows the file very well. Is relaxed and informal. Will ask rep for theory of case and expects you to be able to cite exhibits and page numbers in support of your allegations regarding RFC. Also, if a doctor expresses an opinion about RFC it should include the doctor's opinion about how long that RFC has existed. Does not like when claimants receive unemployment so be prepared to amend your onset to date after receipt of UE benefits.

This judge is so unfair and is denying disability to people that cannot posibly work. It is shocking, that this can happen in America. If their is any way to stop him, please do. He is a criminal judge, and should be in prison. He is creating _ injury to welfare system in kansas. Many are suffering, please help !

I just got my letter from the Determination office today, with a very positive answer for me! It still says it could take 60 days before I start receiving benefits, but I am thrilled to know that I WILL be getting them! I felt that Judge Dayton was very patient with me, and was very empathetic. I had a great experience with him the day of my hearing.

The judge seemed to have made up his mind before he even saw me. Did't listen to the court witness, (his own witness said I couldn't do my job) He totally ignored that in making his ruling. Not going to leave my name because I don't trust him.

i think he should have to live with some of these that are denied because he doesnt see enough evidence wellwhen you live with someone 33 yrs and they complain of the pain and they have no insurance to seek medical because medicaid denies them because not proven be disabled especially when you see so many getting ssi because they have mental problems well to some exinct i feel i have mental stress from my spouse fighting to get his disabilty he worked for it seems more get ssi than those who actually worked and the stress of worrying how care for children and bills and shopping because your spouse isnt capable to help you out but then a judge says not enough evidence i dont really know who is hiring anyone walking in with a cane for support but my opion is look more into what is really said not what you think they said and when did a fishing trip with your son make you not diasbled because i see a man with one leg in a wheel chair fishing daily i see a sqezo prantic deer hunting gambling in a casino but bi polar and cant be around a group people but they are in wal mart they are in gambling and my spouse cant stand in walmart longer about thirty min he in pain and in the car with the seat laid back just saying how you pick and chose